Five candidates vying for three council seats

Nov. 3, 2011

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Staff writer

FREMONT -- A current council member and four first-time candidates are fighting for three Fremont City Council at-large seats in Tuesday's election. Incumbent Mike Koebel, Mark Boukissen, Dallas Leake, Julie Kreilick and Tom Knisely are one the ballot.

The three winners Tuesday night will replace outgoing council members James Melle and Larry Jackson. Melle is running unopposed for city law director.

Voters elected Koebel in 2008, and the president of KOE-MAK Corporation, American Auto Sales said he intends to continue to be a watchdog for city residents if reelected to the council.

"I'm going to be more vigil(ant) in spending the taxpayer's money," Koebel said.

Koebel has been outspoken in his opposition to the handling of the city's $30 million reservoir project and critical of Mayor Terry Overmyer's communication and sharing of information with council members.

Council members Don Nalley and Rick Root have defended Overmyer, and said that it's the responsibility of council members to do their homework before meetings.

Boukissen is a first-time candidate for public office and longtime owner of Whitey's Diner.

He said he decided to run for council because Fremont had been good to him and his business, and he wanted to give back to the community.

"I want to keep Fremont the way it is and make it even better," Boukissen said. "That's my objective."

Boukissen said he had a lot of support from voters and planned to be engaged in council discussions if elected.

"I listen, but I speak up," Boukissen said.

Leake is the program director for the Sandusky County Juvenile Detention Center and an adjunct faculty member at Terra State Community College.

A past president of the NAACP's Fremont branch, Leake said voters have expressed concerns about the reservoir project and how it may affect their water and sewer rates.

He said voters also are talking about the need for transparency at city hall and better paying jobs in the community.

"There are jobs, but they don't pay enough to sustain a family," Leake said.

Leake said his first priority, if elected, is to learn all he can about the position and be informed.

"I will continue to try to make Fremont a better place, whether I'm a city councilman or in my current position," Leake said.

Kreilick, owner of the Looking Good Aveda Concept Salon and Spa, said she started her business 21 years ago in downtown Fremont.

She said she went through the city's zoning process when she opened her business downtown.

"This gave me my initial interest," Kreilick said.

Kreilick said being a city council member required a lot of due diligence and doing her homework on issues coming before council.

As a small business owner, Kreilick said she thought she had a good idea of what the city needed to do to attract new businesses.

She said she was encouraged by the primary results, where Kreilick was the top vote getter.

Like Leake, Kreilick said jobs are a top issue with voters she has talked to during her campaign.

Knisely said he had worked with the county auditor's office for several years and been involved with his family's 818 Club on Croghan Street.

"I like people. I have a good rapport with people," Knisely said.

He said friends and supporters encouraged him to run for council because of his knowledge of the city and his roots in the area.

Knisely said that if elected, he will get answers to residents' questions on city issues.

He said he would like to see more activity in the downtown area and more people use the city's recreational center.